Friday, March 29, 2024

Ukraine gets batch of MK19 grenade launchers from U.S.

Ukrainian Armed Forces have received a new batch of MK19 40 mm automatic grenade launchers from the United States to help the country fend off a potential Russian invasion, according to Ukrmilitary.com.

The U.S. Air Force released pictures showing new pallet loads of small arms ammunition, along with grenade launchers inside a Boeing 747 after it arrived at Boryspil International Airport.

Twitter user @thelema_boy_ was among the first to draw attention to the identification code NSN 1010-01-490-9697, which can be seen on one of the “black pallets”.

- ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW -

According to the NATO Multilingual Supply Classification Handbook and Item Name Directory (ACodP-2), which has also been introduced in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine under the name “Common Classifier of Supplies”, NSN code 1010-01-490-9697 corresponds to such a supply item as ” Machine Gun, 40mm, MK19 Mod III “, or in Ukrainian – 40-mm automatic grenade launcher Mark 19 Mod 3.

According to the number of “black pallets” in the photos taken during the loading of the plane, which was made public by the US military, it can be concluded that only on January 28 several hundred Mk19 grenade launchers were delivered to Ukraine.

The Mk19 was originally designed in 1966, the MOD 3 variant was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1983 and remains in service to the present day. Reliable and portable grenade weapon system suited for light infantry vehicles and tripod applications.

The MK19 MOD 3 is an air cooled, blow-back operated, belt-fed, automatic weapon that fires 40-millimeter grenades from ground mounts and vehicles. It can fire a variety of 40mm grenades. The M430 HEDP 40mm grenade will pierce armor up to 2 inches thick, and will produce fragments to kill personnel within 5 meters and wound personnel within 15 meters of the point of impact.

The U.S. Army currently uses the MK19 within the tactical environment for defense, retrograde, patrolling, rear area security, urban operations, and special operations.

If you would like to show your support for what we are doing, here's where to do it.

If you wish to report grammatical or factual errors within our news articles, you can let us know by using the online feedback form.

Executive Editor

About author:

Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov is the editor-in-chief of Defence Blog. He is a journalist, an accredited defense advisor, and a consultant. His background as a defense advisor and consultant adds a unique perspective to his journalistic endeavors, ensuring that his reporting is well-informed and authoritative. read more

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

TRENDING NOW

Ukraine uncovers secrets of Russia’s new hypersonic missile

Ukrainian analysts have unveiled the classified specs of Russia's shadowy hypersonic cruise missile, the 3M22 Zircon, intercepted by US-made missile defense systems over Kyiv,...